Kiwi ace Williamson returns to Yorkshire

Yorkshire cricket new signing Kane Williamson pictured on his first day at Headingley

Published:10:53Wednesday 18 February 2015

Yorkshire County Cricket Club have completed their overseas recruitment drive for 2015 with the re-signing of New Zealand international Kane Williamson for a third term.

Williamson, who has spent the past two seasons with the White Rose county, will join the club at the back end of the season after New Zealand’s limited-overs tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa, which is due to end early September.

At this stage Williamson, currently performing well for the Black Caps in the ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, is set to figure in Yorkshire’s final three LV= County Championship matches.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a remarkable 2014 with the bat, both in domestic and international cricket.

Not only did he help Yorkshire to their first LV= County Championship title since 2001, scoring 629 Championship runs at an average of 57, he scored more than 900 Test runs at an average of 61.

Williamson’s stunning knock of 242 not out, during which he shared a record partnership for the sixth wicket with BJ Watling against Sri Lanka in January, helped record a 2-0 series victory for the Kiwis and confirm his place as one of world cricket’s in-form batsmen.

“I’m delighted to be returning to Yorkshire for my third spell,” said Williamson.

“I have enjoyed my time over the last couple of years and to be given the opportunity to return to the club is great. There is a brilliant culture at Yorkshire and it is a real privilege to be part of it.”

“Hopefully when I arrive, at the back end of the season, I can contribute to team performances as much as possible and help in our efforts to defend the Championship.”

Yorkshire’s Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon is pleased to secure the services of the Tauranga-born classy right-hander, which completes the club’s recruitment drive following the signings of Aussies Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell and Pakistan top-order batsman Younus Khan.

“It is satisfying that we now have full coverage of world-class overseas players for the forthcoming season,” said Moxon.

“Re-signing Kane for the back end of the campaign is the final jigsaw in the piece. Kane was eager to come back and we are grateful to New Zealand Cricket for giving him the time to play for us in what will be a busy summer of international cricket.

“He is such a fantastic talent and his presence in the dressing room has been vital in our success over recent times.

“Kane is already regarded as one of the best top-order batsmen in the world and his dominance both domestically and internationally has been the catalyst to Yorkshire’s progression in county cricket and New Zealand’s on the international stage.

“He will join us in the last month of the season. That works well for us as Aaron Finch, who is with us for most of the season, will be joining up with Australia for their one-day series against England at the end of August.”

Williamson is likely to come up against his Yorkshire teammates Gary Ballance and Joe Root in the World Cup in Wellington on Friday.